Strip cutter and marker



Oct. 16, 1951 c. E. WARD 2,571,976

STRIP CUTTER AND MARKER Filed 001'.. 19, 1946 4 Sheets-Shel??l l 5 n v yI f 1 7n J3 y i 52! 73 J6' .5f l

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COM/P63550 All? SUPPLY IN VEN TOR.

Oct.r 16, 1951 c. E. WARD 2,571,976

sm? CUTTER AND'-mm Filed Oct. 19, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV HV TOR.

7a2-220g Ward wmma@ Patentedl Oct. 16, 1951` STRIP CUTTER AND MARKERClarence E. Ward, Mishawaka, Ind., assignor to Mishawaka Rubber andWoolen Manufacturing Company, Mishawaka, Ind., a corporation of IndianaApplication October 19, 1946, Serial No. 704,334 I 4 Claims. l

This invention relates to an apparatus for cutting a continuous lengthof strip material into sections and for individually marking thesesections at a fixed distance from one end and at a distance from theother end determined by the weight.

The invention is particularly applicable to cutting and marking tubularknitted fabrics used in the manufacture of woolen footwear according tothe process disclosed in copendingapplication of Sherman and Hanson,Serial No. 655,144 nled March 18, 1946, now Patent No. 2,467,237, but isnot necessarily limited thereto. The knitted stock from which thefootwear, or gaiters as they are commonly called, are manufactured isusually of irregular weight per unit length. As a result, finishedgaiters made from stock out to equal lengths vary in weight. To insure auniform quantity of material for each gaiter produced it is necessarytherefore to measure the knitted stock according to weight rather thanaccording to length. Y

In closing the end of the tubular stock to form the toe of the gaiter,it is customary to employ a machine that stitches the tube together andat the same time trims off the stock immediately outside the seam. Toguide the operator in sewing and trimming to the proper contour, it isnecessary to provide a suitable marking on the face of the strip stockwhich can be easily followed.

Thus, the principal objects of my invention are to provide a machinewhich will continuously and automatically cut strip stock intosuccessive sections the length of each of which is determinedindividually and selectively according to the weight thereof; to insurea high degree of accuracy of the sections as to the weight thereofirrespective of the length; to permit convenient regulation of theweight of the sections; to provide a contour marking across the face ofeach section and accurately located relatively to one end of thesection; to apply the marking while the stock is in the position forcutting and simultaneously therewith; and in general to permit fabricstrips or the like to be rapidly and accurately cut into lengthsindividually determined according to the weight thereof, these and otherobjects being accomplished as pointed out more fully hereinafter and asshown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view ofthe entire apparatus with a portion cut away, showing the strip stock asit advances under the marker and cutter to the weighing platform;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the marking device and feed rolls; Y

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 along the line 3 4;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus looking from the left ofFig. 1 and showing the 2 control mechanism for the feed rolls and forthe marking device;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of thecontrol mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the weighing scale; and

Fig. 7 is a front view of the cutter.

In the disclosed apparatus a roll of strip stock, suitably mounted onthe frame of the machine, is advanced by means of feed rolls under amarking device, through a cutter, and onto the inclined weighingplatform of a scale. When a pred-etermined weight of stock has been fedonto the weighing platform, the advance of the stock is arrested, themarking device applies the contour marking to the face of the stock andthe cutter shears ofi' the section of stock on the inclined platform.All of these operations take place in rapid succession practicallysimultaneouslyi As soon as the section on the inclined platform is cutoff it is immediately discharged therefrom whereupon the cycle ofoperations of advancing, marking and cutting is repeated.

As shown on the drawings, the machine frame, which is indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral I0, has a pair of parallel spaceduprights near the lower ends of which are mounted open top bearings I Iin which is rotatably and removably supported a spindle I2 which carriesthe supply roll I3 of the strip stock I4 to be cut and marked accordingto the practice of the invention. Strip stock I4 is advanced through themachine by means of feed roll I5 mounted at the top of the frame I0 onshaft 28 which is journaled in bearings I1. The roll revolves in thedirection indicated by the arrow. A ratchet device I9 prevents the rollI5 from revolving backwards. Tension roll I6, in running contact withfeed roll I5 is carried by a shaft 20 which is Journaled in a frame filwhich in turn is supported in open top beariigs 2I at the upper ends ofthe aforesaid spaced uprights of the frame I0. The roll I6 may be raisedby exerting a downward force on lever 23, which pivots at point 24 onframe I0 and is connected through the link 22 with the frame IB at 25.Feed roll I5 is driven" by means of chain 21 meshing with sprocket 25,rigidly fixed to shaft 28. (See Fig. 2.) Chain 21 is operated from thepower source (motor 30) through a speed regulator 29 and a countershaftcomposed of aligned shafts 33 and 34 which are operated connectiblethrough a clutch 35 (Fig. 4)

Shaft 33 is supported in bearings 31 and 45, which are bolted to theframe member 19, and has a sprocket 32 on the outer end, connected bythe chain 36 with the drive sprocket 84 of the speed regulator 29. Theshaft 34 has one end thereof supported in the clutch 35 and near theouter end is journaled in the bearing 12 bolted to member 19 of frameI0. Shaft 34 has on its outer end a sprocket 3l around which the chain21 is trained.

When clutch 35 is disengaged, chain 38 continues to drive shaft 33 butthe shaft 34 merely idles until the clutch is shifted to couple shaft 34to shaft 33 into a unit.

The lever 38 pivots at its center on pin 38 which is fixed rigidly toframe I8, to operate clutch 35. The lever 38 is moved back and forth bymeans of the piston 42 in air cylinder 4I and is fastened to aconnecting rod at 40. Air brought to one end of the cylinder 4I throughconduit 44 swings the lever arm 38 to -the position shown in Fig. 4engaging clutch 35. When air is introduced into the other end ofcylinder 4I through conduit 43 the arm 38 is swung to the verticalposition (shown in broken lines in Fig. 4) to disengage the clutch 35.The control means for operating the clutch and consequently the feedroll will be described in more detail hereinafter. Mounted on a part 51of frame I0 at the delivery side of the feed roll I is an inclinedslideway 55 leading to the inclined platform 18 of a weighing scale bywhich the section of stock I4 to be cut oi is measured.

A bridging 54 is secured to and extends over the slideway 55 to guidethe stock I4 from the feed roll I5 to the cutter (indicated generally at88) and to the weighing platform 18, and this bridging 54, which is ofsheet metal and shaped substantially as shown in Fig. 3, has a markerduct 58 secured thereon and of substantially the configuration of themarking to be applied to the stock I4.

This marking, in the present case is of a shape corresponding to the toeend of the foot and the duct 58 is accordingly substantially horse shoeshape and provided with a series of perforations 5| through the bottomthereof registering with corresponding perforations 52 through the topof the bridging 54, through which said perforations a powder is blownonto the underlying stock to mark the path of stitching to besubsequently applied to close the toe ends of the cut o sections of thetubular strip I4.

'Ihis horse shoe shaped marking extends from one lateral edge of thestrip I4 to the opposite lateral edge and at the ends of the series ofhorse shoe marking perforations the horse shoe shaped duct 58 may beprovided with a cross duct 58 with several marking perforations at theends thereof, as indicated in Fig. 2, to define more conspicuously theplaces where the stitching is to start and terminated at the edges ofthe strip.

Beyond the cross duct 58 the ends of the duct 58 are turned upwardly forconvenient application thereto of hose connections 53 through whichpowder is supplied to the marking ducts 58 and 58.

For supplying the powder to the ducts 58'and 58 compressed air issupplied from a suitable source (not shown) through a pipe 80, a valve48 and a pipe 48 to a powder box 58 which has an outlet at the topleading through a pipe 59 with branched terminals from the respectiveends of which the hose connections 53 lead to the eleated ends of themarker duct 58.

The powder box has a filling opening normally closed by a cap 92, andthe air inlet pipe 49 terminates close to the bottom of the powder box58 so that air injected therethrough into the box 58 agitates the powdercontents sumciently to impregnate the air with the powder at its lowerend to slide bar 84. The compressed which is thus carried by theexhausting air through the outlet pipe 59 and hose connections 4 53 tothe marker ducts 58 and 58 from which it is discharged from theperforations 5I onto the strip I4, and into the interstices thereof,underA the bridging 54. The top plate of the bridging 54 should closelyoverlie the strip material I4 to which the powder marking'is to beapplied, as

the powder discharged through the perforations 5I and 52 will otherwisefan out and result in an indistinct marking.

For operating the powdered air blast of the marker in proper timedrelation with the other operations, the lever 38, which controls theclutch through which the feed roll l5 is operated, has a lateralextension 48 with cam 48L on the underside arranged to control andoperate the valve opening lever 41 of the air valve 48 when said lever38 is adjusted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, thearrangement being such that the cam 48SL engages the lever 41 and openstheA air valve 48 upon disengagement of the clutch 35 so that thefeeding of the stock is discontinued and the stock I4 at the markinglocation is stationary when the valve 48 is opened to operate themarker. The valve 48 is spring operated so that it closes by springpressure when the cam 48 is withdrawn from engagement with the valve arm41 and thus the air valve 48 closes in this initial shifting of theclutch lever 38 and before the feeding of the stock by the feed rollsI5, I8 is resumed. Thus it is insured that there is no movement of thestock while the marking is being applied thereto.

Friction between the stock I4 and the machine surfaces in contacttherewith is reduced to a minimum by providing smooth, polished slidingsurfaces in these areas. Accordingly, the inside surfaces ofguide 54,the top side of base plate 55 and the scale platform 18 are chromiumplated. l

The cutter 88, illustrated in Fig. '7 is bolted at its base 82 to member51 of frame I8. The knife blade is fastened to sliding bar 84 by meansof set screws 88. The bar moves up and down on posts 83 to have shearingcooperation with stationary blade 88 to effect a shearing action. Blade85 is inclined throughout its length as shown in Fig. 7 so that itscontact with cooperat ing stationary blade 88 is progressive. The stockI4 slides over stationary blade 88 between guide blocks 81 whichposition the stock directly under down inv response to compressed airintroduced through conduits 18 and 1I. The motion of the piston incylinder 8l is imparted to knife blade 85 through connecting rod 13which is pivoted air is directed to the appropriate end of the cylinderin suitable timed relationship with other operations of the machine in amanner to be described.

A scale 15 is mounted on member 19 of frame I8, and has an inclinedplatform 18 one end of which extends up to cutter 88 but free of allcontact therewith, the angle of incline of the scale platform bedcorresponding to that ci the base plate 55 of the marker from which thestock I4 is fed to the scale platform 18. The details of the scale areshown in Fig. 6. In balance with platform 18 is a second platform 11 onwhich is placed a weight equivalent to the section of stock I4 to be cutfrom supply roll I3. When the scale is balanced, a beam of light fromincandescent lamp 88 which is normally focused on photoelecvthe oppositeends of cylinders Il and 8i.

5 tric cell 8|, is interrupted by indicator hand 82 which completelyblocks light passage through aperture 18. The photo-electric cell 8i is,tn conjunction with a series of relays, part cf a circuit whichenergizes a solenoid 88. When the light beam from source 88 is broken,the coil of the solenoid is energized to operate air control valve 88 soIas to supply air to the rear side of the piston 42 of the clutchoperating cylinder and operate the clutch lever 38 to disengage theclutch 85. Said operation of the valve 86 also supplies compressed airto the top side of the piston oi' cylinder 6| so as to operate thecutter 60. Thus upon the interruption of the light to the photoelectriccen sl, the feeding of the stock I4 is i interrupted, the cutter 60operated to cut ofi' the length of stock in the weighing scale and atthe same time the marking device is operated to supply the marking tothev end of the stock from which the weighedsection is cut off. "I'hequantity of stock on platform 18 is exactly the amount required tocounterbalance the weights 88 on platform 11. When the stock on theplatform 16 has been severed from the continuous length it quicklyslides on' the highly polished platform throwing the scale outof'balance. Indicator hand 82 swings back to open aperture 18 and allowsthe light beam toonce again fall upon the photo-electric cell 8|. Theair control valve 86 through the solenoid arrangement then reverses theoperations causingV the marker to stop application of powder, the cutterto open and the feel roll to advance stock. Exactconstruction detalls ofthe photo-elecric cell-solenoid-air valve combination are well known andare not set forth here. The valve 88 has -four conduits connectedthereto. 'Ihe air supply enters through conduit 93 and is directed tothe heads of cylinders 6| and 8i via conduit 8i. When the valve 81 isreturned to the normal position compressed air is supplied therethroughfrom the supply conduit 88 4to the Opposite ends of the cylinders Il and8|. Conduit 88 exhausts air to the atmosphere. When the ducts of element8l are in the position shown. compressed air through main conduit 8| andbranches 48 and 1i forces the pistons of air cylinders li and 81downwardly. Thus cutter bar 8l is operated to shear ofi' while arm 88 ofthe clutch 88 is thrown into vertical position to disengage the feedroll il from the power source to stop the advance of the strip stock. Atthe same time the movement of n arm 88 into vertical position causestriangular block I8* on cross arm I8 to'open valve 48 and allow air toforce powder from container 88 through marking device 6". Thus we havethree operations taking place as air is directed through conduit 8l (a)'Ihe advancement of theA stock is arrested:

(b) The cutter shears of! the section of stock*` on the platform of thescale, and

(c) The marking is applied to the face of the stock directly beneathmarker Il', I8.

The airfrom the opposite ends of the cylinders is exhausted throughconduits M and 18, into the valve through conduit 88 and out into theatmosphere through conduit 88.

0n the opposite cycle the element l1 of the valve 88 is turned V4 turncountcrclockwise so that one duct now connects the compressed air supplyconduit 88, to conduit 89 and thus into The second duct of element 81joins conduit 8i with conduit 88 to exhaust the air from the cylinder asit is forced out through conduits I8 and 1| when the pistons move up.Now the cutter bar 6 is disengaged, the air to the marker is shut oli aslever 88 moves away allowing a spring to close valve Il, and the clutchis engaged coupling shafts 88 and 84 to start feed roll I 5.

It is desirable to stop the advancement of the y stock before theoperation of .the cutter and the clutch and by retracting the cutterblade 65 sumciently above the stock i4 so that the clutch 35 is fullydisengaged before the cutter blade 65 reaches the stock to be cut. Byproperly adjusting the position of triangular block 48- on -arm 88 themarking operation occurs while the stock il is stationary.

While I have shown and described uw invention in a preferred form, I amaware that modiilcations can be made therein without departing from thespirit of the invention, the scope of which is to be determined by theappended claims.

What is claimed is: v.

1. In an apparatus of the class described for cutting strip materialinto individually measured and marked lengths, the combination of astrip weigher, a strip marker, -a strip feeder which feeds the strip tothe marker and from the marker to the weigher and a strip cutter betweenthe welgher and strip feeder at a predetermined distance from the markerand operatively controlled by the weigher, and means for operating themarker in predetermined timed relation to the operation of the cutter.

2. In an apparatusv ofthe class described for said method comprisesindividually weighing and cutting from saidstrip successive portionsthereof to form the blanks, and applying near one end of each portion amarking at a distance from the other end determinedl by said individualweighing of that portion. 4

4. A method of making elongated individually marked blanks from a stripof blank stock, which said method comprises individually weighing andcutting from said strip successive portions thereof to form the blanks,and, before cutting thereof from the strip, .applying near one end ofeach portion a marking at a distance from the other end determined bysaid individual weighing of that portion.

CLARENCE E. WARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesA are of record. in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number g Name Date 918,813 Armstrong Apr. 20, 1909958,661 Meisel May 17. 1910 IiiOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date663,079 France Mar. 29, 1929

